The Lanka Academic
 
FEBRUARY 16, 2010 EST, USA
 
QUAERE VERUM
 
VOL. 10, NO. 316
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Crackdown Provokes Fears for Sri Lanka’s Democracy - News Analysis
NYT, Feb 17. NEW DELHI — In a part of the world better known for the interruption of democracy than its stubborn endurance, Sri Lanka has always been something of an oddity. A small country that suffered through one of the world’s nastiest recent wars, it nevertheless remained for the most part a vibrant multiparty democracy.Last spring the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa decisively defeated the Tamil Tiger insurgency that had terrorized Sri Lanka for the better part of three decades. Last month, voters rewarded him with a landslide victory that gave him a new term. So it is all the more surprising that his government decided to arrest the longtime ally who became his main rival for the presidency, Gen. Sarath Fonseka. That arrest, and the harassment of journalists and opposition politicians and their supporters, are raising fears that Sri Lanka’s democracy is faltering just as the long-awaited peace begins. More...Discuss this story
Published: Tue Feb 16 23:40:08 EST 2010
S.Lanka stx down on political, economic woes
reuters, feb 17. COLOMBO, Feb 16 - Sri Lanka's benchmark stock index fell to its lowest in more than two weeks on Tuesday on concerns on a possible loss of a European Union trade benefit and growing political uncertainty since the arrest of an opposition leader.The All-Share Price Index <.CSE> of the Colombo Stock Exchange fell 0.71 percent or 26.47 points to 3,691.04, its lowest since Jan. 28.The turnover slumped to a seven-week low of 639.6 million rupees , but still more than 2009 daily average of 593.6 million rupees."Market came down as the sentiments are not healthy," said Prasanna Chandrasekera, associate director at Asia Securities. More...Discuss this story
Published: Tue Feb 16 23:48:38 EST 2010 Back to the top
Sri Lanka slams EU on cutting trade benefits
AFP, feb 17. COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka criticised Tuesday a decision by European Union nations to withdraw preferential trade benefits from Sri Lanka if it failed to respect human rights obligations.

The decision Monday came after an "exhaustive" investigation "identified significant shortcomings" by the island nation in implementing UN human rights conventions, the EU Commission said. More... Discuss this story
Published: Tue Feb 16 20:51:48 EST 2010 Back to the top

Lanka polls did not fully meet key benchmarks: Commonwealth
 Rediff, Feb 16. The keenly-contested presidential polls in Sri Lanka [ Images ] did not 'fully meet' key benchmarks for democratic elections and the arrest of opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka has increased tension in the country, according to a Commonwealth report... Back to the top
S.Lanka opposition file court challenge to premier
 afp, Feb 16. COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka's former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka on Tuesday petitioned the Supreme Court challenging incumbent Mahinda Rajapakse's re-election, his lawyer said... Back to the top
Sri Lankan court frees editor
 afp, Feb 15. COLOMBO — A Sri Lankan court Tuesday freed a senior editor held for more than two weeks under tough emergency laws as the government faced local and international criticism over a crackdown on dissidents... Back to the top
Sri Lanka to face EU trade loss; ready to discuss
 Reuters, feb 16. COLOMBO, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka is prepared to face a European Union withdrawal of its preferential trade benefits that helped to boost the island nation's garment export to the region, a top official said on Tuesday... Back to the top
India uneasy over Sri Lanka's slide
 Asia TImes, Feb 16. BANGALORE - Developments in neighboring Sri Lanka are triggering unease in India... Back to the top
EU to halt Sri Lanka trade preferences amid human rights concern
 Reuters, feb 16. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union said on Monday it planned to withdraw preferential trade benefits to Sri Lanka because of concerns about the south Asian island's human rights record... Back to the top
Sri Lanka may miss IMF deficit target
 Reuters, February 16. COLOMBO: Sri Lanka could overshoot its 2009 budget deficit target set by the IMF for a $2.6 billion loan, due to high post-war reconstruction costs, a central bank official said on Monday... Back to the top
Sri Lanka's president tightens his grip on power
 Rabble.ca, Feb 16. While Sri Lanka's presidential election victor, Mahinda Rajapakse, was awarded a doctorate for his efforts towards world peace by the Peoples' Friendship University, of Moscow on Feb... Back to the top
India Worries as China Builds Ports in South Asia
 nyt, feb 16. HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka — For years, ships from other countries, laden with oil, machinery, clothes and cargo, sped past this small town near India as part of the world’s brisk trade with China... Back to the top
LTTE operated 11 branches of Eelam Bank
 toi, feb 16. COLOMBO: The vanquished Tamil Tigers had a well placed chain of financial institutions called ‘Eelam Banks’ which provided loan and credit facilities to the people of north and east Sri Lanka, officials have said... Back to the top
Sri Lanka's opposition coalition cracking
 AP, Feb 15. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – The main partner in Sri Lanka's opposition coalition will contest the next elections independently, officials said Monday, the first split since its defeated presidential candidate was arrested for alleged sedition... Back to the top
S.Lanka lawyers criticise government over crackdown
 afp, Feb 15. COLOMBO (AFP) – Lawyers in Sri Lanka accused the government Monday of illegally suppressing protests at the arrest of former army chief Sarath Fonseka... Back to the top
Sri Lanka police say blast kills 2 Tamil children
 ap, Feb 15. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – A police spokesman says an explosion in northern Sri Lanka has killed two Tamil children and wounded six others... Back to the top
Thousands of IDPs miss resettlement deadline
 Reuters, Feb 15. COLOMBO, 15 February 2010 (IRIN) - Sri Lankan government officials aim to resettle more than 100,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) by April after missing a self-imposed deadline to move everyone out of camps in the country's north by end-January... Back to the top
SL to clarify reasons behind Fonseka arrest to monks
 PTI, Feb 15. Colombo, Feb 15 (PTI) Sri Lankan government today said it will send a delegation to meet the country's powerful Buddhist monks to clarify the reasons behind the detention of former army chief Sarath Fonseka after they asked President Mahinda Rajapaksa to release the "gallant officer"... Back to the top
Court issues arrest warrant against Fonseka’s son-in-law
 Hindu, Feb 15. A Sri Lankan court on Monday issued an arrest warrant for Gen... Back to the top
Sri Lankan bishop 'disturbed' at arrest of former army chief
 Ekklesia, Feb 15. The Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Rt Revd Duleep de Chickera has expressed deep concern over the arrest of retired former army chief Sarath Fonseka, as the country faces yet more political turmoil... Back to the top
Buddhist clergy divided over arrest of Sri Lanka opposition leader
 dpa, Feb 15. Colombo – Sri Lanka's Buddhist clergy was reportedly divided Monday over the arrest and detention of former army commander General Sarath Fonseka on charges of conspiring against the government... Back to the top
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